NORTH OLMSTED, Ohio – Thieves targeting catalytic converters have hit at least nine cars and trucks parked in repair shops along Lorain Road in recent weeks, according to North Olmsted police reports.
Two of these thefts occurred at Advanced Diagnostics Auto Repair.
“You start looking over your shoulder and realizing that there are people who are not on your side,” said owner Jay Petek.
After the first case in late December, Petek said it had upgraded its security cameras.
In a few weeks, it bore fruit. The cameras recorded clear videos of a man and a woman appearing to be working as a team stealing a catalytic converter from a van that was parked waiting for repairs.
The theft took place on a Sunday afternoon, when the store was closed.
Petek said that when the mechanics started the van to repair it, they knew immediately that they had been hit again.
“We went to pull the vehicle and it was there, very loud,” Petek said. “You know at that moment what it is.”
Catalytic converters are part of car exhaust systems. They can also be valuable to thieves who abandon them for quick money.
“There are precious metals involved,” Petek said. “It’s platinum. They’re worth some money based on the metals inside the converters.”
Police reports show that the thieves also hit a nearby maintenance facility, where trucks were parked and a car dealer in recent weeks.
As the thefts add up, so did the price of repairs for Petek, who covered the costs of replacing the stolen catalytic converters in his parking lot.
He said replacements can cost between $ 500 and $ 1,500.
“We don’t want to buy catalytic converters, I want to promise you that,” Petek said.
He hopes that someone will recognize the couple caught by the camera stealing from his store and will call the police, hoping to put the brakes on this series of thefts.
“I understand the times are tough,” Petek said, “but if you need a job, come see me. I don’t have to be stolen from me.”
Police in North Olmsted said officers were looking for clues trying to identify the thieves.
They said that two ways for people to protect their cars is to either park inside a garage or park in a well-lit area near the entrance to a building.